Islamic scholars condemn terrorism

Islamic scholars condemn terrorism, say America shouldn't support Israeli
oppression of Palestinians

Occupied Jerusalem: 15 September, 2001 (IAP News)

Muslim scholars all over the globe have strongly condemned the suicidal plane-crashes in the United States, saying that even if it was found that people from an Islamic background committed this horrendous act, Islam shouldn't be blamed for the actions of a few of its followers.

"As Christianity can't be blamed for the violent actions of some of its followers, the religion of Islam likewise shouldn't be blamed for the actions of some of its misguided followers," said Sheikh Muhammed Hussein, an Islamic scholar and Imam and speaker of the Aqsa Mosque in Jerusalem.

Speaking on the Voice of Palestine Saturday, Sheikh Hussein said attacks on innocent people is absolutely and totally forbidden.

"In our religion, even cutting off a tree or killing an animal is forbidden, let alone the killing of innocent people."

He accused the Zionist-owned and Zionist-controlled media in the Western world of "working rabidly to besmirch, vilify and incite against Islam and Muslims."

Prof. Dr. Muhammad Tahir ul Qadri, founder of Minhaj ul Quran Movement has condemned the devastating terrorist strikes in New York and Washington and expressed deep grief on the loss of thousands of innocent people. He said that this act of cruel terrorism needs a broader and impartial investigation without having any pre-assumed reservations and assumptions. He said that unawareness of the American intelligence agencies from this horrible national tragedy is also a question mark. He stressed upon the need of unified struggle against terrorism to restore and maintain the global peace.

Sheikh Muhammed Hussein Fadlullah, a Lebanese Muslim scholar of universal stature, argued that Muslim opposition to American oppression of the Palestinian people and other Muslim peoples doesn't justify attacking and killing innocent people.

"Israel is the main beneficiary of this terrible tragedy," he said.

Sheikh Yousef Al Qaradawi, the well-known Egyptian scholar, also condemned the terrorist acts in the United States.

He said the world "must make a distinction between what Islam says and what some misguided individuals do in its name."

Qaradawi recognized though that there was no easy remedy for the problem of terrorism.

"Terrorism thrives on oppression and injustice, you can't uproot terrorism if you don't uproot oppression."

He added that the terrible tragedy should make the US reconsider its wanton backing of Israeli oppression against the Palestinian people.

On Friday, Muslims around the world held special prayers for the souls of the victims of the terrorist act in the US.

The prayers were in stark contrast to the image portrayed by Islamophobic media in the United States which stopped short of issuing sweeping condemnation of every single Muslim, thus creating a climate of fear and hostility against the Muslim/Arab people.